MasonM

I Just Can't Win in Blogging JoeUser Forums

The engine in my truck was just rebuilt about a month ago because it was running through coolant. On my way back up from NC to WI it started running through about 2 gallons every 350 miles. Again. I am in a hotel tonight and have to put my truck into the garage, yet again, tomorrow morning. I am seriously getting sick of this shit. This engine has been trouble since day one. Once again I am losing income due to this damn truck. I would love it if the garage burned to the groun

Reply to Do I Look Like I Work Here? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="3" id="2600385"] Do I Look Like I Work Here? It depends. Did you have your bow tie on? [/quote] :LOL: good point, but no I didn't at the time and nnobody at this place did either. Thanks for the chuckle.

Reply to Why Kindle will fail as a device, succeed as a format. in Books JoeUser Forums

Well, since this old thread has been resurrected, I've examined the Kindle and the Sony Reader. I bought the Sony. I use it daily as both an ebook reader and a notepad (the Touch edition allows one to write or type notes on the screen). I have no interest in the iPad at all. I am looking forward to the release of the HP Slate later this year.

Reply to Do I Look Like I Work Here? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="ChuckCS" reply="1" id="2599616"] What has happened to the idea of customer service and guest relations? Probably what had you toilet clogged up. Yet more proof that common sense should be on the endangered species list and probably have the word "common" removed from the phrase.[/quote] Yes, common sense is a very uncommon commodity.

Do I Look Like I Work Here? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

This morning the toilet in my motel room stopped up and wouldn't flush properly. Naturally, I called down to the front desk and reported it to them. The lady said she would send someone with a plunger. The housekeeper arrived at my door, complimented the smell of my pipe tobacco, and started to hand me the plunger. Excuse me? Do I like like I work here? I patiently explained to the young woman that I am a paying guest here and certainly can't be expected to perform maintenance on the

Reply to Doing A Show in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="3" id="2599330"]I sure as heck do not know how to operate and deflate and inflate them thar tars! You are a jack of all trades! So you are sitting south of us, and here I am headed out of town! Enjoy the weather. We are in the short season called "nice" in these parts (between the cold and heat). As for the smoking, I know that our previous idiot Governor banned it in Virginia, but I am kind of surprised about NC. They a

Reply to Doing A Show in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="ChuckCS" reply="1" id="2598665"]Brownie points are always good. You never know who's that person you are going out of your way to help. Might end up with a nice pay off.[/quote] Yeah, I've spent most of my life in some sort of customer service field and old habits are hard to break. Brownie points do pay off sometimes.

Doing A Show in Blogging JoeUser Forums

This morning I delivered an armored troop carrier to Camp Lejuene, NC for a Marine Corps Expo show taking place over the next couple of days. I met with the factory rep, unloaded the truck, and after the paperwork I headed for the gate. Another of our drivers was also there delivering a Sandcat and we departed together. As we have to lay over here until Thursday afternoon to reload the vehicles and haul them back out again we decided to drop our trailers at Lot 201, which is one of th

Reply to Long Drive, Clean Truck, And Time For A Smoke in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="notronaj" reply="2" id="2596531"]A nice post Mason. Could feel a smooth flow and not so herky jerky (is that a word?). I hope the better mood stays with you and I can relate to the anniversary of your mother's passing. Take care of you and It is good to find missing possessions! j[/quote] Thanks. Things are going pretty smoothly for now.

Reply to Long Drive, Clean Truck, And Time For A Smoke in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="1" id="2593287"] Now if I can just find time to get some laundry done I'll be in good shape. I am now down to wearing jeans and tee shirts which is definitely not my style. What? no bow tie? We need to get a care package to you so you can wear your ties! Good to hear the journey went well. Welcome back to the east side of the Mississippi![/quote] Thanks. I managed to find some time to do laundry ove

Long Drive, Clean Truck, And Time For A Smoke in Blogging JoeUser Forums

In Holland, MI tonight. When I left Seattle it was still snowing up on Snoqualmie Pass and they were requiring trucks to chain up. My policy is to not chain up as I figure if the road is that bad I don't need to be on it with a big rig. Fortunately, the company for whom I work feels the same way. No sense in risking an expesnive truck and load over a slick roadway. So, I went down to Portland and ran across through Salt Lake City and across I-80. It was 200+ miles longer going that

Reply to Wet Chilly Day In Washington in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="notronaj" reply="2" id="2588462"]Hi guy. Good to "see" you out there. Travel safe.[/quote] Hey there! Thanks.

Reply to Wet Chilly Day In Washington in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="1" id="2587024"]You do seem to be more mellow now that you are back on the road.[/quote] Yeah, working is a lot better than not working. [quote] As for snow? What is that? We are having an early summer (mid 90s). That will end soon. But it is still nice to ear shorts again![/quote] I wish! I had to go over 200 miles out of my way when I left Seattle because they were requiring chains to cross Snoqualmie due to the snow

Reply to The MSM are Liars in The Media JoeUser Forums

The problem, as I see it anyway, is that journalism has gone the way of the Dodo and has been replaced by "opinion reporting". I get to listen to pretty much all of the news outlets via radio as I drive and frankly, the only one I hear these days that actually engages in journalism is NPR. I hear far more actual factual reporting and complete stories from them (as opposed to just spouting opinions) than any other news source. The sad thing is, they are just giving "the people" what th

Wet Chilly Day In Washington in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Yesterday I delivered a couple of snow plow blades in Washington. One plow blade, along with a hitch and a spare tire, went to the port in Seattle. The other blade, along with a hitch and spare tire, went to the port in Tacoma. Both are going to the same Air Force base in Alaska. Why on two different ships from two different ports? Who knows? The trip out here was fairly pleasant. I ran into a little snow in Wyoming and a pretty fierce snowstorm coming across Snoqualmie Pass in Washin

Reply to New Jersey Ports Suck in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="notronaj" reply="3" id="2583878"]Was going to do the colored egg thing and dye little chicks for you this Easter until I realized that really would not stand the test of time. SO.... I am hoping you had a good ham or lamb dinner today with all the trimmings. Happy Easter all you truckers out there on our highways, keeping us supplied even if we don't need it (or can't afford it any more). Glad you are MOVING Mason. j[/quote] <

Reply to New Jersey Ports Suck in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="1" id="2581427"] On a positive note, my truck is now running perfectly. Better than it has since I've been in it in fact. Perhaps it's finally fixed, but I'll not be convinced of that for at least a month yet. From the sound of it, the only thing OE on your truck is the shell! As for NJ ports, hey! The mob has to make a buck right? (I guess you can tell what my opinion of NJ is). Have a safe and profitable trip! And keep a

Reply to My Truck Is Evil in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="8" id="2581435"] That would be nice. Yesterday I got no less than three positive comments on my bow tie Now that I work for post secondary education, I keep expecting to see you when I walk onto one of the campuses. [/quote] :LOL: Ya never know...

New Jersey Ports Suck in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I generally hate having to go into any port to pick upor deliver. They're all a pain in the ass, but somehow the ports in New Jersey are especially ass-painful. After picking up my truck from the engine shop in Milwaukee last Saturday morning I ran a load out East. I delivered some stuff at the airport in Manchester, NH and then delivered the rest of my load to two different ports in NJ. Both were a royal pain, made worse by the constant rain that was falling which made for miserable

Reply to My Truck Is Evil in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Awake98" reply="5" id="2580129"]Dr Guy - if that's true, we should be keeping an eye out for the first wave of gentlemen truckers [/quote] That would be nice. Yesterday I got no less than three positive comments on my bow tie :D

Reply to My Truck Is Evil in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704896104575139990857438962.html [/quote] Great article, thanks. I thought the one guy's comment about getting "funny remarks" if he carried his knitting into a truck stop was hilarious. I do it all the time. [e digicons]:grin:[/e]

Reply to My Truck Is Evil in Blogging JoeUser Forums

[quote who="Dr Guy" reply="1" id="2574889"]Sorry about the bad luck. I have had enough experience with bad mechanics that when I found a good one, I stuck with him! For 30 years now. My wife is still learning (after an $800 "repair" bill just last year). I guess with the big rigs, mechanics are just hard to find period. I hope they take care of it quickly, for your sanity sake.[/quote] Thanks. Yeah, when you have a breakdown on the road you're pretty

My Truck Is Evil in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Since I'd retrieved my truck from the garage down in Orlando it's had a very loud and very annoying whistling sound coming from either the turbo or the air intake feeding the turbo. This morning I had to put the truck in our shop for it's monthly inspection and I asked the mechanics to see if they could track down the source of the annoying whistle, thinking it was probably just a loose hose or something. Wrong. They found that the NEW turbo installed by the guys in Orlando is

Reply to Call Me Mr. Blue in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Been busy trying to make up for lost time (and income) of late and haven't been online at all. Delivering to an airport in MI tomorrow morning.

Reply to Call Me Mr. Blue in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Thanks, folks. I am currently in Wisconsin getting ready to go to the airport and fly back down to Orlando to pick up my truck. Last Monday the boss's son, who was in Daytona for bike week, came by the motel and picked me up and brought me back to WI. I used a borrowed truck to run a load out to Maryland and back. The idiots in Orlando finally finished my truck on Friday. We were thinking I would have to take the bus down but after checking fares it's actually cheaper to fly.<